2024 Empowering Voices Awards
Event Information
When:
November 13th, 2024
Eastern Time
Where:
In Person
Hyatt Regency Tysons Corner Center
7901 Tysons One Pl
Tysons, Virginia
Our Empowering Voices Awards attracts hundreds of guests, including government officials, civil society leaders, and grassroots activists. Over the years, we have honored notable figures like pioneering civil rights leader Representative John Lewis, Nobel Peace Prize laureates Muhammad Yunus and Shirin Ebadi, and actors George Takei and Morgan Freeman.
This year, MPAC is honored to present Senator Bernie Sanders with the Lifetime Achievement Award. Senator Sanders, a long-time ally of the American Muslim community, has consistently championed our shared values. He opposed President Trump’s Muslim Ban and stood as a strong critic of President Biden’s support for Prime Minister Netanyahu’s actions in Gaza. His support for student protests against Israel’s actions on college campuses has been particularly inspiring as they face unfounded accusations of antisemitism.
MPAC will also posthumously recognize Shireen Abu Akleh with an Empowering Voices Award. In 2022, Shireen’s tragic and unjust death deeply impacted our community, and we continue to grieve with family, friends, and colleagues who lost such an extraordinary woman. Her unwavering dedication to truth and justice, especially in her tireless coverage of the Palestinian cause, has inspired not only the American Muslim community but people around the world. Her commitment to speaking out against oppression and injustice exposed the tyranny to the wider world, and her courage in speaking the truth will impact generations to come.
A leading voice in political commentary and co-host of the anti-establishment podcast and YouTube show, Breaking Points, MPAC is proud to recognize Krystal Ball as an Empowering Voice Award recipient for championing independent journalism that prioritizes truth and transparency. As we continue to watch politicians and media outlets discount the lives of Palestinians on the world stage–with no accountability in sight–Krystal’s efforts serve as a powerful reminder of the importance of independent media in upholding the principles of democracy and the protection of human rights.
UK Member of Parliament Naz Shah will also join us as a featured speaker at this year’s Empowering Voices Awards. Shah has been a tireless advocate for equality, justice, and the rights of marginalized communities, speaking out against far-right attacks on Muslims and minority groups. Her dedication to combating Islamophobia, xenophobia, and systemic racism has made her a powerful voice in the UK and beyond.
Join us for this special event on Wednesday, November 13th!